Automatic secondary plug for integrated racking on breaker

Abstract

A circuit breaker with an integrated motorized racking mechanism, automatically provides electrical power to the racking motor when the breaker is inserted into a breaker compartment. The racking motor remains powered when the breaker is in either a disconnected position, a testing position, or a fully connected position. A racking power plug mounted within the circuit breaker conducts electrical power to the racking motor by automatically connecting to a stationary racking power receptacle mounted in the breaker compartment, and remains connected as the circuit breaker moves through the breaker compartment during the racking operation. A control power plug is mounted in the circuit breaker to connect to a stationary control power receptacle mounted in the breaker compartment and to conduct control power to control circuits in the circuit breaker after the racking motor has completed racking the circuit breaker into the connected position in the breaker compartment.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A racking system for a circuit breaker, comprising:
 a racking motor mounted in a circuit breaker, configured to move the circuit breaker into a breaker compartment for connection of primary contacts of the circuit breaker in a connected position to a main bus, the racking motor configured to drive a racking linkage for racking the circuit breaker into the breaker compartment when provided with racking power; 
 a control power plug mounted in the circuit breaker, configured to conduct control power by connection to a control power receptacle mounted in the breaker compartment, when the racking motor has moved the circuit breaker into the connected position; 
 a racking power plug mounted in the circuit breaker, configured to conduct the racking power to the racking motor; and 
 a racking power receptacle mounted at a stationary position in the breaker compartment, configured to automatically connect with the racking power plug when the circuit breaker is inserted into the breaker compartment, to provide the racking power to the racking motor through the connected racking power plug; 
 wherein the racking power plug is further configured to remain connected and stationary relative to the racking power receptacle while the circuit breaker moves within the breaker compartment during a racking operation and after the circuit breaker reaches the connected position. 
 
     
     
       2. The racking system of  claim 1 , wherein the circuit breaker moves relative to the racking power plug when the racking power plug is connected to the stationary racking power receptacle while the circuit breaker moves within the breaker compartment during the racking operation, and the racking power plug remains connected to the racking power receptacle after reaching the connected position. 
     
     
       3. The racking system of  claim 1 , wherein the control power plug mounted in the circuit breaker moves relative to and remains disconnected from the control power receptacle mounted in the breaker compartment while the circuit breaker moves within the breaker compartment during the racking operation prior to reaching the connected position where the control power plug becomes connected to the control power receptacle. 
     
     
       4. The racking system of  claim 1 , wherein the racking motor is configured to drive a racking linkage for racking the circuit breaker into the breaker compartment when provided with racking power via the racking power plug and the racking power receptacle. 
     
     
       5. The racking system of  claim 1 , wherein the racking power plug is configured to connect to the racking power receptacle when the circuit breaker enters the breaker compartment. 
     
     
       6. The racking system of  claim 1 , wherein the control power plug is accessible from outside the breaker compartment when the circuit breaker is drawn out from the breaker compartment. 
     
     
       7. The racking system of  claim 1 , wherein the connection of the primary contacts of the circuit breaker to the main bus is with primary stabs in the circuit breaker when the racking motor has moved the circuit breaker into the connected position. 
     
     
       8. A circuit breaker, comprising:
 a racking motor mounted in the circuit breaker, configured to move the circuit breaker into a breaker compartment for connection of primary contacts of the circuit breaker in a connected position to a main bus, the racking motor configured to drive a racking linkage for racking the circuit breaker into the breaker compartment when provided with racking power; 
 a control power plug mounted in the circuit breaker, configured to conduct control power by connection to a control power receptacle mounted at a stationary position in the breaker compartment, when the racking motor has moved the circuit breaker into the connected position; 
 a racking power plug mounted in the circuit breaker, configured to conduct the racking power to the racking motor by connection to a racking power receptacle mounted at a stationary position in the breaker compartment; 
 wherein the racking power plug is further configured to remain connected and stationary relative to the racking power receptacle while the circuit breaker moves within the breaker compartment during a racking operation and after the circuit breaker reaches the connected position. 
 
     
     
       9. The circuit breaker of  claim 8 , wherein the circuit breaker moves relative to the racking power plug when the racking power plug is connected to the stationary racking power receptacle while the circuit breaker moves within the breaker compartment during the racking operation, and the racking power plug remains connected to the racking power receptacle after reaching the connected position. 
     
     
       10. The circuit breaker of  claim 8 , wherein the control power plug mounted in the circuit breaker moves relative to and remains disconnected from the control power receptacle mounted in the breaker compartment while the circuit breaker moves within the breaker compartment during the racking operation prior to reaching the connected position where the control power plug becomes connected to the control power receptacle. 
     
     
       11. The circuit breaker of  claim 8 , wherein the racking motor is configured to drive a racking linkage for racking the circuit breaker into the breaker compartment when provided with racking power via the racking power plug and the racking power receptacle. 
     
     
       12. The circuit breaker of  claim 8 , wherein the racking power plug is configured to connect to the racking power receptacle when the circuit breaker enters the switchgear cabinet. 
     
     
       13. The circuit breaker of  claim 8 , wherein the connection of the primary contacts of the circuit breaker to the main bus is with primary stabs in the circuit breaker when the racking motor has moved the circuit breaker into the connected position. 
     
     
       14. A racking system for a circuit breaker, comprising:
 a racking motor mounted in a circuit breaker, configured to move the circuit breaker into a breaker compartment for connection of primary contacts of the circuit breaker in a connected position to a main bus, the racking motor configured to drive a racking linkage for racking the circuit breaker into the breaker compartment when provided with racking power; 
 a first control power connector mounted in the circuit breaker, configured to conduct control power by connection to a second control power connector mounted at a stationary position in the breaker compartment, when the racking motor has moved the circuit breaker into the connected position; 
 a first racking power connector mounted in the circuit breaker, configured to conduct the racking power to the racking motor; and 
 a second racking power connector mounted at a stationary position in the breaker compartment, configured to automatically connect with the first racking power connector when the circuit breaker is inserted into the breaker compartment, to provide the racking power to the racking motor through the connected first racking power connector; 
 wherein the first racking power connector is further configured to remain connected and stationary relative to the second racking power connector while the circuit breaker moves within the breaker compartment during a racking operation and after the circuit breaker reaches the connected position. 
 
     
     
       15. The racking system of  claim 14 , wherein the circuit breaker moves relative to the first racking power connector when the first racking power connector is connected to the second racking power connector mounted at its stationary position in the breaker compartment. 
     
     
       16. The racking system of  claim 14  wherein the first control power connector mounted in the circuit breaker moves relative to the second control power connector while the circuit breaker moves within the breaker compartment during the racking operation prior to reaching the connected position. 
     
     
       17. The racking system of  claim 14 , wherein the racking motor is configured to drive a racking linkage for racking the circuit breaker into the breaker compartment when provided with racking power via the first racking power connector and the second racking power connector. 
     
     
       18. The racking system of  claim 14 , wherein the first racking power connector is configured to connect to the second racking power connector when the circuit breaker enters the breaker compartment. 
     
     
       19. The racking system of  claim 14 , wherein the first control power connector is accessible from outside the breaker compartment when the circuit breaker is drawn out from the breaker compartment. 
     
     
       20. The racking system of  claim 14 , wherein the connection of the primary contacts of the circuit breaker to the main bus is with primary stabs in the circuit breaker when the racking motor has moved the circuit breaker into the connected position.